Are you unhappy with your current church experience? Is your church not meeting your spiritual, relational, and emotional needs? Do you lack any sense of anticipation as Sunday mornings approach? Has it become easy to sleep in, take a weekend trip, or find something else to do on Sundays? Do you drive home from church services highly frustrated?  And the most important question – Are you now considering the option of switching churches?
Facebook stock has dropped 45% in the last two months from its initial offering of $38.00. Investors obviously do not “Like” Facebook stock and are leaving. But why?
Matt Krantz of www.USAToday.com explores four reasons why investors are leaving Facebook and considering alternative investment options.  As I read his thoughts, I was struck how these same reasons also give us a picture into why leaders switch churches. See if you agree. You can read Krantz’s full article by clicking here.
- Disconnect Between Serving Consumers And Serving Investors – You can’t leapfrog leaders. Facebook seems to focus on satisfying their customers more than the investors. For instance, they created software for tablets and mobile devices without a revenue strategy. When investors in your ministry are not brought in early in the decision process, they feel unappreciated and that their interests no longer matter. Many will then disconnect or even leave your ministry.
- Disgust At The Company’s First Quarter As A Public Company – Investors and leaders want to be part of great movements and successful organizations. Slow or declining growth, especially in churches, frustrates them.  Most leaders in your church will want to be part of the solution. However, if they are excluded, many will disconnect or even leave your ministry.
- Missed Expectations – Facebook was overhyped from the beginning. When pastors or church leaders continually over hype and miss expectations, trust is lost. When trust is lost, many will disconnect or even leave your ministry.
- Bleak Future Coupled With Hopelessness – Later this month, investors will be able to begin selling their shares. In fact, 268 million shares will hit the market and join the 2.1 billion already outstanding. Investors and leaders want opportunity for advancement and to do something significant with their time and resources. Facebook no longer offers this.  If your church does not offer it either, many will disconnect or even leave your ministry.
If your church is experiencing similar problems, are there available solutions that could generate positive momentum and engage top leaders? Krantz offers three suggestions:
- The Senior Pastor Must Lead And Be Highly Engaged - He/She must “bleed” the church’s mission and vision? They must “own it”. If not, that has to be addressed.  Francis Gaskins of www.IPOdesktop.com says, “Zuckerberg’s behavior during the roadshow highlights his desire not to get overly consumed with the stock…He’s not cut out to be the CEO of a hard-driving Silicon Valley company responsible to investors.”
- Embrace Change And Make It A Top Priority – Leaders are very comfortable with change. They equate change with positive momentum.  Therefore, leaders will initiate and manage change. They do not react to it.  The Kingdom of God is always moving. It is always advancing. It is always breaking new ground and changing lives. It is always innovative. Leaders are attracted and want to be part of that type of ministry.
- Underpromise And Overdeliver – Leaders must get wins, even small ones, under their belt. Realistic expectations must be communicated. The vision and ministry initiatives must be obtainable.
Are you currently losing key leaders? Are you willing to do the three suggestions listed above?
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